Baghdad, Oct 05: Iraqi former servicemen awaiting payment of back salary staged brief protests in Baghdad and the southern port of Basra today after coalition troops told them that no money was being handed out at this stage. The demonstrations erupted after two Iraqis were killed yesterday, one in the capital and the other in Basra, when army veterans awaiting a one-off payment of $40 clashed with coalition forces. The coalition blamed yesterday's incidents on supporters of ousted President Saddam Hussein.

About 400 former soldiers protested in Basra, throwing protestors threw rocks at the British soldiers who responded by firing rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

At least a dozen people were arrested, said an ex-police officer, Najah Ali, who had come to claim his back payment.

The veterans had lined up earlier in hopes of receiving the one-off $40 payment and the British handed out a pamphlet, saying there would be a delay due to the "necessary documents being burnt during the demonstrations" yesterday.
In Baghdad, several hundred Iraqis waited outside a coalition compound for payment of back salary or pension, as about 60 demonstrators jumped up and down, waving sticks and chanting god's praise -- "ya allah." Some were seen carrying guns.


The snap protest started after us troops pushed back the men lining up at the gate of the compound and ordered them across the street.
Bureau Report